Electric elevator



(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 1.

' A. NEUBURGER.

ELEGTRIG ELEVATOR Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 2.

A. NEUBURGER.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

No. 468,253. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

zkyazziaz" 6 Sheds-Sheet 3. v

(No Model.)

A.NEUBUR GER. ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

Patented Feb. 2

(No Model.) 7 6 Sheets-Sheet '4.

' A. NEUBURGER.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

No. 468,253. Patented Feb 2, 1892 Qf Q/0 [raven Z07." A

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

A. NEUBURGER. ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

No. 468,253 Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

in I I t 1 zzvezzo'x' UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT NEUBURGER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.-

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,253, dated February2, 1892.

Application filed July 31,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT NEUBURGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Elevators;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to electric elevators wherein the energy of anelectric current is utilized to raise or lower and stop or start apassenger-car or weighted platform at the will of the attendantstationed in the car.

The nature of the present invention consists in the combination, with amain-line and a motor circuit, of a switch mechanism carried by the carand arranged to close the two circuits in a manner to admit more or lessof the electric current into the motor-circuit, and thereby enable theattendant in the car to control the speed of the car or platform, toreverse the direction of movement of the car or platform, and to startor stop the same. The mechanism is so constructed and arranged that atthe starting of the car it can be moved slowly and afterward the speedof the car increased by. admitting to the motor-circuit the fullstrength or approximately the full strength of the current from the mainline, and the car can be stopped by gradually slackening its speed untilit comes to a full stop by moving the switch mechanism to graduallydiminish the strength of the current in the motor-circuit.

The invention further relates to the combination of devices and peculiarconstruction and arrangement of parts whereby simplicity and durabilityof construction is attained,

efficiency in operation secured, as Well as full control of the car bythe attendant stationed therein.

In the accompanying drawings hereto anneXed I have illustrated thecircuits, one form of hoisting mechanism, and the general arrangement ofparts, as Well as the detailed construction of several forms ofcut-outs; but I do not limit myself to the particular hoisting mechanismshown in Fig. 1, as any pre- 1891. Serial No. 401,309. (No model.)

ferred or known form of hoisting mechanism may be used. I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the several circuits,reversing-switch mechanism, and the hoisting mechanism. Fig. 2 is anelevation, showing the preferred forms of the main and motor circuits,switch mechan ism, the rheostats, and the cam-switch or cutouts for themake-and-break of main and motor circuits. Fig. 3 is an edge view of themechanism shown by Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of theswitch mechanism shown by Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detailviews of the several contactshoes, one or more of which may be used inthe switch mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the contacts for thecontact-shoes. Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the cam-switchcont-acts for the make-and-break main and motor circuits. Fig. 11 is anenlarged side elevation of the collecting-brush wheels or shoes for themain circuit and the same for the motor-circuit, capable of making rigidcontacts with the vertically-suspended contact-strips. Fig. 12 is atransverse section of Fig. 11. Figs. 13 and 14 are details of rheostatsof varying resistances for use in connection with the diiferent kinds ofcontactshoes. Fig. 15 is a diagram of the main-line and motor circuits,showing the main-line switch for cutting off the current from theelevator system. Fig. 16 is a view of a modified form of switchmechanism in which I employ a series of spring-backed rods and slidingcontacts in lieu of the traveling shoes for closing the branches of thedivided circuit. Fig. 17 is a detail view, partly in side elevation andin section, on an enlarged scale, of part of the mechanism shown by Fig.16; and Fig. 18 is a detail View, in front elevation and partly insection, of the devices shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

Like numerals and letters of reference denote corresponding parts in allthe figures of the drawings.

In my improved system for electric elevafrom the street into thebasement or other part of the building where the elevator is erected, asuitable switch a being used, as indicated in Fig. 15, for turning thecurrent off from the central station and admitting it to the conductorswithin the building. These conductors of the main line are ordinarycopper conductors with good insulating-covering and are connected tofuse-blocks a in the well-known way, and said conductors are then led tovertically-strung bare-metal contactstrips 0 D, which are suitablyfastened in the hatchway in which the elevator-car is adapted to move,said contact-strips being electrically connected with the main-lineconductors and forming a continuation of the main-line wires and a partof the circuit for the current in the main line. These verticalcontact-strips O D are suitably protected or insulated within thehatchway, and against these baremetal contact-strips O D are positivelyforced or pressed the collecting-brush wheels or shoes 0 Dwhichcollectthecurrentsuppliedtothecontact-strips by the main-lineconductors and which serve, in connection with the switch mechanism andthe rheostats, hereinafter described, to transmit the energy of thecurrent to the motor-armature-circuit conductors E E, which areconnected to the commutatorbrushes 9 g of the electric motor G, situatedin the building in which the elevator is erected.

F is the hoisting mechanism,which is illustrated conventionally in Fig.1 and arranged in the usual way to be operated by the motor to raise orlower the car. I employ a motor having shunt-wound field-coils utilizinga current of constant potential, and by connecting the conductors E E ofthe motor-circuit to the commutator-brushes and employing in themain-line and motor circuit a re versingswitch mechanism, through whichthe current must pass from the main-line to the motor circuit, I amenabled to send the current in either direction through the armature ofthe motor, and thus reverse the direction of rotation of the armature tooperate the hoisting mechanism for the purpose of raising or loweringthe car or platform, and at the same time the speed of the elevatorcarcan be controlled by the attendant within the same and the car can bestopped and started at any point in the hatchway by simply manipulatingthe lever of the switch mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, of thedrawings, H designates a mechanically-operative cam-switch or cutout,through which the current from the main line passes to thereversing-switch mechanism. I is a similar mechanically-operativecam-switch or cut-out provided in the motorcircuit, and J designates theswitch mechanism, which consists, essentially, of the single continuouscontact-plate 1, the divided contact-plate 2 3, the movable arm l, thereciprocating parallel bars 5 6, each carrying a series ofcontact-shoes, means actuated by the movement of the swinging arm 4 tocause the shoes of one bar 5 or 6 to successively make the fixedcontacts, the rheostats, and suitable connections between the severalparts.

The collecting-brushes O D are suitably pivoted to crank-arms c, whichare fixed to rocking posts 0', mounted so as to turn in metallicbrackets or standards 0, and to the brackets or standards areelectrically connected the wires '7 and 8, forming a part of the mainline, the wire 7 being the positive conductor to receive through thebareanetal contactstrip 0, the shoe C, the post, and the bracket thecurrent from the conductor A, while the Wire 8 is the negative conductorand forms a continuation of the wire B and the negative bare metalstrips D as the current passes through the wire 8, the bracket 0", towhich the wire 8 is fastened, the post, the shoe D, and the bare-metalstrip D. The positive wire 7 leads and is electrically connected to thesingle continuous plate 1, where the wire 7 terminates.

The sections 2 3 of the divided contactplate are insulated from eachother by a suitable insulating material 9, placed between theapproximate ends of the sections of said plate, and said divided plateis out of electrical contact with the single continuous plate 1, saidsingle plate and the divided plate being arc-shaped or of segmental formand arranged concentric with each other, so that the movable arm 4 ofthe switch can make con tact with either member 2 or 3 of the dividedplate and with the single continuous plate in order to close the circuitthrough the mainline and the motor circuit when said movable arm isturned to either side of its normal upright position, in which posit onit bears on the insulation 9 and the single contact-plate l. v Thevertical bars 5 6 are arranged parallel with each other and at asuitable distance apart, and these parts are preferably polygonal inform and fitted so as to slide or move longitudinally in correspondingfixed guides 10 on the ear platform. The bars are adapted or arranged tobe moved separately and independently of each other. Thus when one baris shifted or moved the other bar remains at rest, and vice versa, whichis accomplished by means of the cam-slotted plate 11, actu ated by theshaft or hub of the operating-lever 12, which also moves the swingingarm 4 of the switch simultaneously with the adjustment of one or theother of the vertical bars or carriers.

The operating-lever 12 is arranged within the car or on the platform inconvenient reach of the attendant, and said lever is rigid with atransverse rock-shaft 13, which is suitably journaled or mounted on thecar, said shaft preferably extending through the car. On this shaft orhub of the operating-lever the movable switcharm 4 is rigidly secured;but it is insulated from the shaft or hub to avoid short-circuiting ofthe current; and on opposite sidcsof the movable switch-arm I placeinsulating-washers 14, which insulate said arm 4 from the adjacentmetallic parts of the switch mechanism. This rocking shaft or hub alsocarries the cam-slotted plate 11,

which is rigidly fastened or secured to said hub or shaft so as to turnthe switch, and which plate is insulated from the movable arm by one ofthe washers 14.

In plate 11 I provide two slots 15 16, one on one side of'the pivot ofthe plate and the other on the opposite side of said pivot, and eachslot has a segmental end 15', which is concentric with the pivot orshaft 12, and an angular end 16, which is radial to the pivot or shaft,said slots 15 16 in the plate being reversely placed in relation to eachother.

v In the slot 15 works a friction-roller 17, which is loosely journaledon a fixed pin on the upper end of the reciprocating bar 5, and asimilar friction-roller 17 on the upper end of the bar 6 works in theslot '16 of the cam slotted plate 11. As the lever 12 is turned to causethe movable arm to make the section 2 of the divided contact-plate theplate 11 is turned with the shaft, so that the friction-roller 17 ridesidly in the concentric part 15' of the slot 16 to allow the bar 6 toremain at rest, while at the same movement of the plate 11 thefriction-roller 17 rides in the radial end 16 of the slot 15'and causesthe bar or carrier 5 to become depressed, whereby the one bar or carrieris moved downwardandtheotherbarremains atrest. When the lever isturnedback to its initial position to cause the swinging arm to bear onthe insulation 9 between the divided sections of the uppercontact-plate, the bar 5 is elevated by the roller 17 riding in theradial part of the slot 15 in the plate, while the bar 6 remains atrest, asits roller simply rides in the concentric part of the slot 16.WVhen, however, the lever is turned to the reverse position to adjustthe movable arm 4 to make the section 3 of the upper contact-plate, theroller 17 rides in the radial end 16' of the cam-slot 16, so astodepress the bar 6, while the bar 5 remains stationary, because itsroller 17 rides in the concentric end of the slot 15, and when the leveris returned to its initial normal position to bring the movable arm 4onto the insulation 9 the bar 6 is raised by the roller 17 riding in thecam-slot and the bar 5 still remains at rest.- It is thus seen that thebars or carriers 5 6 are operated independently of each other andthatvone is at rest while the other is in operation.

Along each side of each vertically-movable bar or carrier I provide aseries of fixed contact-plates, the positive contacts 18, 19, and 20 forthe shoes of the bar 5 being on the left of said bar, while the negativecontacts 21 22 23 are on the right of the bar 5, and the positivecontacts 24 for the shoes of the bar or carrier 6 are on the rightthereof, while the negative contacts 27 28 for the shoes of the carrieror bar 6 are on the left side there:

of. (See Fig. 4.) In connection with these series of contacts I employtwo rheostats K L, Figs. 2, 3,14, and 15. The rheostat K, Fig. 13, isdesigned for use in connection with the contactsand shoes of the carrier5, while the rheostat L is designed for use in connection with the otherbar 6. Each rheostat is divided or made up of a series of sections ofdifferent resistances. Thus the rheostat K has a section or part of highresistance, another section 79' of low resistance, and a third section70" of a resistance between that of the high and low resistance. Therheostat L is divided into sections L L, each of which has parts Z Z Z lof different resistances. From thefirst positive contact 18 of the lowerbar or carrier 5 a wire 18 leads to the section 70 of high resistance ofthe rheostat K; from the second contact 19 of said carrier 5 a wire 19leads to the intermediate-resistance section 70" of the rheostat K, andfrom the lower contact 20 of said carrier 5 a wire 20 leads to thelow-resistance section 70' of the rheostat.

The contacts 24 25 for the bar or carrier 6 are differently constructed,arranged,and connected to the rheostatL from the contacts for the shoesof the bar 5. Thus each contact is divided or split up into a series ofpieces,each suitably insulated from the other, the parts of the upper orfirst contact 24 being connected by the wires 24 with, the sections Z ZZ" Z of the member L of the rheostat L, while the divided parts of thelower contact 25 are connected by the wires 25 with the sectionsl Z Z"Z' of the member L" of the rheostat L, said members L L, forming 'therheostat L, being connected at the lower part by the wires L. Thenegative wire 8 of the main line is led beneath the contact-plates 1, 2,and 3 in rear of the bar 6, and thence between the two bars 5 6 and thenegative contacts 21, 22, and 23 of the carrier 5 and the negativecontacts 27 28of the carrier 6, said negative contacts being suitablyconnected to the negative wire 8, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. e

To the section 2 of the divided contact-plate is connected a positiveconductor 30, and a similar conductor 31 is connected to the sec tion 3of said divided contact-plate, said positive conductors 30 31 being incommon or electrical connection and preferably crossing each other belowthe contact-plates. The conductor 30 is connected at its lower end to aplate 32, from which lead wires 33 to the members L L of the rheostat L,which member L is connected at the bottom by the wires L to the bottomof the other member L of said rheostat. The positive conductor 31 isconnected at its lower end to a plate 34, and from this plate 34 leadthree wires 35, 36, and 37, the first-named wire 35 leading from theplate 34 to the bottom of the high-resistance section It of the rheostatK, the second wire leading from said plate 34 to the low,- resistancesection 7a of the rheostat K, and

the wire 37 leading from the plate to the intermediate-resistancesection 7.: of said rheostat.

Although the positive contacts 24 25 of the carrier 6 are different inconstruction as compared with the contacts 18, 19, and 20 of the othercarrier 5 and the connection of said positive contacts 24 25 with therheostat L is different from the connection of the positive contacts 18,19, and 20 with the rheostat K, yet I do not wish it to be understoodthat I necessarily employ such particular construction and connection ofthe contacts and rheostats. In fact, I prefer to make the contacts foreach baror carrier similar in construction and connect them to therheostats in a similar manner-that is to say, I prefer in practice tomake the contacts for the bar 5 similar to the contacts for the bar 6 orto make the contacts for the bar 6 similar to the contacts for the bar5, the different contacts beingherein shown and described to make itclear that I do not restrict myself to the precise constructiondisclosed as an embodiment of my invention.

Each bar or carrier has a series of shoes for making the negative andpositive contacts provided therefor, and in the drawings I haveillustrated several different formsof shoes, either of which may be usedat pleasure on the bars or carriers. One embodiment or form of the shoeM is shown inthe detail views, Figs. 5 and 6,which shoe consists of abridge-plate 40, having sockets 41, carbon blocks or contacts 42, fittedin said sockets and projectingbeyond both ends of the same, and a spring43, which is rigidly secured to the bridgeplate, the ends of said springbearing on the carbon blocks and being in electrical connectiontherewith. The shoe l\.[ is placed on the bar or carrier transversely tothe length thereof, so that its carbon blocks can make the pair ofpositive and negative contacts, and between the bridge-plate 40 of theshoe and metallic bar or carrier is placed a suitable insulation 44,which insulates the sockets of said bridge-plate, as well as the plateitself, from contact with the bar or carrier. The shoe can be suitablyfastened to the bar or carrier to move therewithas, for instance, theinsulating-block can be cemented on the bar or carrier and thebridge-plate fastened to the block by the screw that holds the spring inplace, said screw being out of electrical contact with the bar orcarrier. This form of shoe with the long blocks of carbon is especiallyadapted for use in connection with the flat contact-plates shown in theleft of Fig. 4; but I may use the raised or elevated contact-blocks 24,as in Fig. 3, in which case I use the shorter carbon blocks shown inFig. 8 and change the proportions of the bridgeplate and socketsaccordingly. Again, for the form of divided contacts 25 shown in Figs.2, 8, and 4 I may use the form of shoes shown in Fig. 7, each shoehaving two rollers 45, loosely journaled in fixed pins in the brackets47,

fitted in the sockets of the bridge-plates and held in position by aspring fastened to the insulating-block between said bridge-plate andthe carrier or bar.

It is to be understood that the number of shoes on the bar or carrier isto correspond to the number of pairs of positive and negative contacts.Thus in the left of Fig. 4 I have shown three pairs of contacts andthree shoes, while in the right of Fig. 4 but two shoes are shown forthe two pairs of contacts, although the positive contacts are dividedinto the parts or sections to lead the sections of the rheostat L. It isalso to be understood that the shoes on each bar are duplicates of theotherthat is to say, if the contacts 24 25 and the connection thereofwith the rheostat is used for both bars and carriers5 0 the necessarynumber of shoes of the form shown in either Figs. 7 or 8 is applied toboth bars or carriers, while if the contacts 18 19 20'and 21 22 23 areused for both bars or carriers 5 6 the number of shoes M necessary forthe contacts are applied to the bars or carriers. The number of shoes,however, is not material; but a sufficient number should be used on thebars or carriers and they should be so arranged as to successively (notsimultaneously) make the several contacts, and thus permit the currentfrom the positive conductors 30 or 31 to successively flow through thesections of the proper rhe0stat,and there by gradually admit the currentfrom the'motor-armature circuit through the rheostat in said circuit,which is thus explained: The circuit across from the negative to thepositive shoe-contacts is normally open, as the bars or carriers whenraised to their initial positions by the cam-slotted plate raise theshoes so that they do not touch the plates suffieiently to close thecircuit, and the mainline and motor circuits are broken or opened at themovable switch-arm, which rests or bears at one end on theinsulating-block 9. Now when the lever is turned slowly the shaft or hubthereof operates the movable switch-arm and the cam-slotted plate at onetime, as follows: If the switch-arm is turned to make the sect-ion 2 ofthe divided contactplate, the circuit in the main line and themotor-circuit is closed and the bar 6 and its shoes remain at rest,while the bar 5 and its shoes are lowered sufliciently for the firstshoe to make the contacts 18 21, thus completing the circuit through therheostat K from the positive conductor 7 to the negative conductor 8, asthe circuit from the armaturewires of the motor-circuit then passes fromthe plate 1 across the switch-arm 4 to the section 2 of the dividedplate, then through the wire 54, Fig. 2, leading from the plate 2 to theconductor E, and thus through the armature of the motor-circuit back bythe other conductor E of the motor-circuit to the wire 55, Fig. 2,thence to the section 3 of the divided contact-plate, then through thewire 31, the wire 35, the high-resistance section 7a of the rheostat K,the wire 18, the first contactplate 18, the first shoe M across to thenegative contact 21, and then through the negative conductor 8 out ofthe main line. As the operating-lever is further depressed and thecam-slotted plate turned therewith the carrier or bar 5 continues itsdescent and breaks the contact at 18 21 by the first shoe M clearin gthe same; but before this contact is wholly broken the second shoe makesthe contacts 19 22, and the current then passes through the mediumresistance 7c of the rheostat and across the second shoe to the negativeconductor, thereby admitting a current of higher strength to passthrough the motorcircuit, and as the lever is further turned the secondshoe breaks the contacts 19 21, while the third shoe makes the contacts20 23 and the current passes through the low resistance of the rheostat,and thus the strength of current is still further increased in themotorcircuit. Thus the strength of the current is gradually increaseduntil the maximum effeet is produced in the motor-circuit, therebyenabling the attendant in the car to start it slowly and to graduallyincrease the speed of the motor-armature and the speed of the car and itis obvious that the car can be gradually slowed down and stopped easilyby simply reversing the lever to successively deliver the currentthrough the different resistances of the rheostat and the shoes of theseries on the movable carrier or bar.

When the switch mechanism is operated to cause its switch-arm to makethe section 2 of the divided contact, the current is sent through thearmature of the motor in one direction to cause the motor and hoistingmechanism to move the car in one direction; but to reverse the motion ofthe car or platform I shift the switch to send a current in the reversedirection to rotate the armature of the motor in the reverse directionand the hoisting mechanism. This is effected by moving the lever tocause the switch-arm to make the section 3 of the divided contact-plate,thus lowering the carrier or bar 6 and its shoes, while the carrier 5and its shoes are at rest. As the carrier 6 is lowered its shoessuccessively make contact with the divisions of the positivecontact-plates 24 25 and with the negative contact-plates 28 27 tosuccessively admit the current through the high, intermediate, and lowresistances of the rheostat L, and thereby gradually increasethestrength of the current in the motor-circuit until the motor isdriven at the desired rate of speed, and by reversing theoperating-lever the strength of the current can be gradually diminisheduntil it is cutoff and the car stopped. The wires of the motor-circuit EE are vertically suspended in the hatchway and are parallel to thebare-metal contact-strips O D and similarly exposed, so that goodelectrical contact can be made therewith by the rollers 50 50', whichare loosely journaled on pins fixed in the bifurcated ends of themovable arms 51 51', which arms are rigidly secured to the rocking posts52, suitably journaled n1 fixed brackets .53. From these brackets leadwires 54: 55, forming a part of the motor-circuit, bc- 7 in g thepositive and negative wires which lead from the sections 2 3 of thedivided contactplate. The wires F of the motor-circuit are connected tothe field-coils of the motor G and to the main-line conductors A B atthe fuse-blocks in the manner indicated in Fig. 15; but themotor-circuit wires E E are not directly connected to the main-lineconductors, as they lead to the conductors 54 55, which terminate at thesections 2 3 of the divided contact-plate, so that the motor-circuit isnormally opened at the reversing-switch mechanism J. The motor-circuitand the main line are broken or opened when the switcharm is in itsnormal vertical position to contact with the insulating-block 9; butwhen the switch-arm 4 is shifted by its lever to make contact with thesection-2 of the divided contact-plate the motor-circuit is closed andthe current from the main-line conductors A '7 passes through the plate1, across the movable switch-arm 4, through the section 2 of the dividedplate, through the moving contact 50 and the wire 54: to the conductor Eof the armature-circuit, and thus through the armature of the motor backthrough the other conductor E of the armature-circuit to the othermoving contact 50' to the wire 55, thence to the plate-section 3, theconductor 31, the sections of the rheostat K, thence through the wires18', 19', or 20 to the contacts 18, 19, or 20, across the proper shoes Mof the carrier 5 to the negative contacts, and thence out through thenegative wire 8 to the negative conductor B of the main line, thepassage of the current in the manner de scribed operating to rotate thearmature in one direction By shifting or reversing the switch mechanismto cause its movable arm 4 to make the section 3 of the dividedcontactplate, the direction of rotation of the arma ture can bereversed, as the current of elec: tric energy from the main-lineconductors A 7 will then pass from the plate 1 across the movableswitch-arm 4 to the section 3 of the plate, then through the movingcontact 50 and the conductor 55 to one wire E of the armature-circuit,thus rotating the armature of the motor, and then back through the otherconductor E of the armature-circuit to the moving contact 50 and thewire 54, then through the section 2 of the divided plate, the

ferent resistances of the rheostat included in such branches, whichbranches of one circuit, embracing the sections of the rheostat L, areformed by the wires 24: and 25, the conductors 30 and the conductor 8,and the several contacts and shoes, while the branches of the otherdivided circuit, embracing the sections of the rheostats K, are formedby the wires 18 19 20', the conductor 31, the negative couductor 8, therespective contacts for the branches of the divided circuit and to whichsaid wires are connected, and the shoes for making said contacts. Thewire 30 is connected by branch wires to the several sections of therheostat L, and the members L L" of said rheostat are suitably connectedin the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and l-t, said rheostat L being in thecircuit formed by the wire 30, and the branches of the divided circuitsformed by the wires 24 25 to permit, in connection with the switchmechanism, the current to be sent in one direction, and the wire 31 issimilarly connected by branch wires to the several sections of therheostat K to bring the latterinto the main line, which is completedthrough the wire 31, the rheostat, and the several branches of thedivided circuit formed by the wires 18 19 20, their contacts, and theshoes, thus providing in connection with the switch mechanism, forsending the current in the reverse direction.

The mechanical cam-switch or cut-out II for controlling the current inthe main line consists of an endwise-movable bar or slide 56, which isguided in suitable ways 57, a cam 58, carried by a shaft 59, having anoperatii'ig-handle, and connections between the slide and the rockingposts, which carry the collecting-brush wheels or shoes C D. Theserocking posts 0 e have the links rigidly secured to them, and the innerends of the links are slotted and connected by a pin to the slide 56,the links and the posts which carry the brushes being insulated from theslide 56 by an insulatingblock 61, suitably fastened on the slide andinterposed between said slide and the inner ends of the links, and saidlinks 60 being insulated from each other by an insulating piece or block(51, which is rigidly fastened to one of the links, (to the left-handlink, as shown in Fig. 10,) said insulating-piece 61 forming a part ofthe lefthand link and lapping the slide and the righthand link as shown,whereby the current is prevented from becoming short-circuited acrossthe links 60 60 and the slide 56. By turning the handle to throw the camso that it raises the slide the links turn the posts, which force thecollecting-brushes out of contact with the bare-metal contact-strips CD, thus breaking the main-line circuit should the current be passingthrough the same; but the slide is normally lowered by the action of aspring 59, and the collecting-brush wheels or shoes have good electricalengagement with the fixed bare-metal contact-strips vertically.

The mechanical cam-switch cut-out I, suspended in the hatchway for themotor-circuit, is similar to the cut-out for the main line; but it isoperated independently of said outout- II. This cut-out I consists ofthe links US, rigidly secured to the rocking posts 52, the insulatedslide G9,guided in two ways and having the links connected thereto, anoperating-cam 71, provided with a handle, and a spring, all combined sothat by the simple movement of the cam the arms 51 51' will be adjustedout of engagement with the motorcircuit wires E F by the movement of theslide, the links, and the rocking posts.-

The operation of my invention will be understood by those skilled in theart from the foregoing description, but may be briefly summarized asfollows: To start the car or platform, it is only necessaryfor theattendant in the car to turn the operating-lever slowly, thereby turningthe swinging switch-arm to make one of the sections of the dividedcontact, one end of said switch-arm thus bearing on the plate 1 and asection of the divided plate, thereby completing the circuit in the mainline and closing the motor-circuit, and at the same time the cam-slottedplate moves one of the carriers or bars to cause the shoes thereof tosuccessively make contact with the pairs of positive and negativecontacts, thus shunting the current from the main line through thedifferent resistances of the proper rheostat, the other carrier-bar andrheostat remaining inert. The armature of the motor will thus be rotatedin one direction to raise or lower the car, the speed of which is underthe immediate control of the attendant, and by turning the switchmechanism back to its initial position the speed of the motor will bedecreased gradually and the carstopped easily without the sudden jerkingaccompanying the use of ordinary passenger-elevator cars. By reversingthe switch to make the other section of the divided contact plate andbringing the other carrier, its shoes, and rheostat into service areverse current of electric energy will be sent through the armature ofthe motor to rotate said armature in the reverse direction, and thuschange the direction of travel of the car or platform, the speed of themotor and the car being also under the control of the attendant in thiscase, the same as before. The attendant can cut the switch mechanism outof the main-line or the motor circuit at will, which is desirable incase the machine becomes disarranged, and it will thus be seen that thewhole mechanism is under the immediate and direct control of theattendant in the car.

In Figs. 16, 17, and 18 of the drawings I have illustrated a furthermodification of the reversing-switch mechanism which may be used in lieuof the reciprocating carrier, shoes, andv contact-plates shown in Figs.2, 3, and 4. In this form of switch mechanism I employ a series ofspring-backed rods 76 77, operating in suitable guides and of differentlengths, a series of sliding contact-plates 78,

movable with said rods, a series of fixed contact-plates 79, on whichthe movable contacts bear or press, and a series of yielding or springplates 80, arranged at one end of the reciprocatingrodsin the pathof thesame and adapted to come into electrical connection therewith. There aretwo sets of these rods and contacts provided, one for each end of thecam-slotted plate, similar to the reciprocating carriers and shoes, andthe fixed contact-plates and the springs of each set are connected tothe conductor S and in circuit with the different resistances of therespective rheostats in a similar manner to the carriers and theircontacts, as indicated in Fig. 16 of the drawings, in which K K are therheostats, having their sections of high, low, and intermediateresisttance 7c, 7e, and It" connected by the wires 35, 36, and 37 to thespring-contacts 8O 80. As the cam-slotted plate is operated with thereversing-switch arm,one set of rods remains at rest, while the otherset of rods are moved all together, the longest rod first coming incontact with its respective spring-plate, then the next rod, and so onwith the last rod, thereby completing the circuit through the fixed andsliding plates, the rods, and the spring-plates and operating to shuntthe current through the different resistances of the rheostat, fromwhence the current passes to the motor to rotate the armature in onedirection. WVhen the switch is reversed, the first set of rods remain atrest, while'the other set of rods are operated in the manner describedto send the current successively through the armature of motor and theother rheostat, and thereby operate the same to reverse the car.

It should have been stated that the switcharm 4 is provided with twosockets, in which are fitted the carbon blocks, held in place by aspring, one of said blocks being normally in contact with the platel,while the other block at the free end of said movable arm is adaptedto make the insulating-block 9 or either section 2 or 3 of the dividedplate. This movable arm of the reversing-switch mechanism is constructedthe same as the shoe M. (Illus trated by Figs. 5 and 6.)

I am aware that changes in the construction and arrangement of deviceshere shown and described as an embodiment of my invention can be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of myinvention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations asfall within the scope of'my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line embracingthe bare-metal conductors in a hoistway, a car, and suitable hoistingmechanism, of a motor-circuit, traveling contacts on the car,whichnormally bear on the bare-metal conductors, and a reversing-switchmechanism arranged to open and close the main line and motor-circuit andembracing a series of movable contacts arranged to successively closedifferent branches of a divided circuit, in which are included differentresistances of a rheostat, substantially as described.

2. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line embracingbare-metal con- (1 uctors in a hoistway, a car, and suitable hoistingmechanism, of a motor-circuit having its conductors connected to thecommutatorbrushes of a motor therein, and a reversingswitch mechanismhaving the main-line and motor-circuit conductors connected to its fixedcontacts 2 8 and embracing a movable switcharm, and a series ofindependent branch circuits which are adapted to be successively closedby movable contacts which operate to vary the strength of the current inthe motorcircuit by including different resistances in the branches ofthe divided circuit, substantially as described.

3. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line embracingthe conductors or strips in a hoistway, a car, and suitable hoistingmechanism. of a motor-circuit,a reversni -switch mechanism on the car,arranged to open andclose the main line and motor-01rcuit, and anindependent mechanical camswitch or cut-out having traveling contactsarranged to normally contact with the conductors of the main line andadapted to be operated from the car to cut out the reversing-switchmechanism from the main line, substantially as described.

4. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line embracingthe bare-metal conductors, a car, and suit-able hoisting mechanism, ofthe motor circuit embracing the conductors in a hoistway, a switchmechanism arranged to deliver the current from the main-line conductorsto the motor-circuit, and an independent. mechanical cam-switch includedin the motor-circuit and having traveling contacts which normally bearon the vertical conductors of the motor-circuit, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of a rheostat, aseries of positive contacts connected by a divided circuit with therheostat, and a switch mechanism including a series of movable contactsadapted to successively send the current through different sections ofhigh and low resistance of the rheostat, substantially as described.

G. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,and suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of a rheostat,

a divided circuit connected with the sections of high and low resistanceof the rheostat, and a switch mechanism operating to suecessively closethe branches of the divided circuit and to admit the current through thedifferent resistances of the rheostat, substantially as described.

7. In an electric elevator, the combination,

with a main line embracing the bare-1netal conductors, a car, suitablehoisting mechanism, and the motor-circuit havingcomluctors connected tothe com mutator-brnshes of the motor-armature, of the continuous anddivided contact-plates to which the positive conductors of the main lineand motor-circuit are connected, a divided circuit embracing therheostat, and a switch mechanism includinga movable contact-arm for thecontact-plates, and traveling contacts arranged to successively closethe branches of the divided circuit, substantially as described.

8. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism,and a motor-circuit, of the divided circuithaving a rheostat, with its sections of high and low resistance includedin separate branches of said divided circuit, and a switch mechanismoperating to close the main line and motor-circuit and to successivelyclose the branches of the divided circuit, while the main line and themotor-circuit are closed, thereby shunting the current successivelythrough the branches of the divided circuit and the sections of high andlow resistance of the rheostat, substantially as described.

9. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a car, suitablehoisting mechanism, a m ain line including the vertically-strungbaremetal conductors, the traveling brushes, the contact-plate 1, andthe divided plate having its sections connected with said brushes, ofthe divided circuit embracing arheostat, with its sections of high andlow resistance included in separate branches of the divided circuit, anda switch mechanism having a moving arm for the contact-plates, and aseries of movable contacts arranged to successively close the branchesof the divided circuit, substantially as described.

10. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of the divided circuithaving a positive and negative contact in each branch thereof andincluding a rheostat, with its sections of high and low resistanceembraced in separate branches of said divided circuit, and a switchmechanism provided with a movable arm for closing the main line andmotor-circuit, and a series of movable contacts which make contact Willithe positive and negative contacts of the branches of the dividedcircuit, and thereby successively close the branches of said dividedcircuit, substantially as described.

11. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, acar,suitablehoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of the divided circuithaving each'of its branches provided with the two contacts and one ofthe resistances of a rheostat included therein, and a switch mechanismprovided with an arm which closes the main line and motor-circuit, andwith a vertically-movable carrier which sustains a series of travelingshoes adapted to successively close the branches of the divided circuitthrough the contacts thereof, substantially as described.

12. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, acar,suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, oi the independentdivided circuits, each havingitsbranches embracing the sections of highand low resist ance of the rheostat, and a switch mechanism embracingtwo sets of movable contacts, one set for each divided circuit, saidduplicate sets of contacts being connected to a common operating device,and one set of each contacts remaining inactive while the other set ofcon tacts is moved by the operating device to close the branches of thedivided circuit, and vice versa, substantially, as described.

1 3. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of two independentdivided circuits, each embracing a rheostat, a switch-arm adapted toclose the main line and motor-circuit and having a camslotted plate, themovable carriers connected to said cam-slotted plate, and the travelingcontacts movable with said carriers and operating independently of eachother to close the circuits, substantially as described.

14. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism, and a motor-circuit, of the independentbranch circuits, each having a rheostat, in which the sections of highand low resistance thereof are embraced in separate branches of thedivided circuit, the single and divided contact-plates included in themain line and the motor-circuit, a switch for said contact-plates, acam-slotted plate movable with said switch, the independent carriers forthe divided circuits and connected to the cam-slotted plate, and thetraveling shoes movable with said carriers, the set of shoes and onecarrier being operated by the cam-slotted plate to successively closethe branches of one divided circuit, while the other carrier and set ofshoes remain at rest, substantially as described.

15. The combination, with a main line, a car, suitable hoistingmechanism, and a mo tor-circuit, of the divided circuits embracing therheostats, the switch, the cam-slotted plate, the carriers actuatedindependently by said plate, and the series of traveling shoes carriedby said carriers and each having the contact-surfaces held by springsinto engagement with the contacts of the divided circuit, substantiallyas described.

16. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,suitable hoisting mechanism having bare-metal conductors rigidlysuspended in the hoistway,the rocking posts, each carrying a brush whichcontacts with said conductors, and a movable cut-out cam-switchconnected to said rocking posts to adjust the posts and throw thebrushes out of contact with the aforesaid bare-metal conductors, of amotor-circuit, the shunt-circuit embracing a rheostat, and a switchmechanism, substantially as described.

17. In an electric elevator, the combination, with a main line, a car,and suitable hoisting mechanism, of the motor-circuit having thehatchway-conductors E F and the wires connected to thecommutator-brushes of its motor-armature, the rocking posts, eachcarrying a movable contact, which presses against one of thehatchWay-conductors of said motor-circuit, the divided contact-plates towhich the hatchway-conductors of the motor-circuit are connected, themanual cam cut-out switch for throwing the movable contacts out of en 15gagement with said conductor, the divided circuit, and a switch,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT NEUBURGER. Witnesses:

HENRY E. COOPER, J OSEPH R. EDSON.

